Match Game Begins w/ Hibbert, Blazers

[lethalweapon3]

I think Pritchard and the Pacers will match, though.

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2012/07/trail_blazers_restricted_free_agent_center_roy_hib.html

After living through five injured-riddled Greg Oden seasons, the Trail Blazers have finally found their franchise center.

The team on Sunday reached a verbal agreement on a multi-year contract with restricted free agent Roy Hibbert, widely regarded as the top center prospect on the market.

General manager Neil Olshey met with Hibbert’s representatives after free agency opened at 9:01 p.m. Portland time Saturday night and, according to reports from Sports Illustrated and CBSSports.com, offered Hibbert a maximum four-year, $58 million contract. Olshey refused to discuss contract specifics Sunday morning, but confirmed the team was “engaged in negotiations” with the prized free agent center.

“We intend to enter into an offer sheet once the moratorium period ends,” Olshey told The Oregonian in an e-mail...

His signing would fill the Blazers’ most glaring roster need and provide the team with a dominant inside presence it has lacked for years. Pairing him with All-Star power forward LaMarcus Aldridge on the low block would give the Blazers one of the league’s biggest and most athletic front lines.

But the signing is not set in stone just yet. Because Hibbert is a restricted free agent, the Pacers will have 72 hours to match the Blazers’ offer once it’s signed. Although free agency opened late Saturday night, deals are not allowed to be signed until July 11, meaning the Blazers likely won’t learn if they’ve landed their top target until July 14.

Regardless, the pursuit and possible signing of Hibbert is a bold and potentially difference-making move for Olshey in his first free agent action as the team’s general manager.

And in an interesting twist of fate, the Blazers pursuit of Hibbert will be decided by the man who drafted Oden — Kevin Pritchard, the new general manager of the Pacers.

~lw3

[Wurider05]

Hibbert is no where near a max player. not even close.